Radiator



Feb. 21, 1933. E, E WAYLES 1,898,327

' RADIATOR Filed March 24, 1923i) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I2' f fg 9 15 Invenor.'

Edgzrl Wa'yes @ma H51? Awww@ Patented `lieb. 2l, 19133;.

PATENT OFFICE EDGAR E. WA'YLIB, OF EAST HABTIORD, CONNECTICUT RADIATOR Application illed Iarch 84, 1,930. Serial No. 438,416.

This invention relates to radiators, more particularly of the type constructed lar ely of sheet metal and adapted .for instal ay tion in an inconspicuous arrangement as 1n l association with a wall, as/for example, in a wall panel or in place of and simulating the usual base board adjacent the floor level. Primarily the object of the invention is the provision of an efficient compact heatmg ele- 0 ment associated with a sheet |metal caslng in a manner to form a rigid faced radiator structure of the type mentioned. A further object of the invention is provision of novel means for supporting the heating element, and of means for associating the frontplate or grille, of the casing, /with said element and a support, whereby an unobstructed a1r passage below the grille, may be extended throughout the length of the heating element. Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the disclosure of the accompanying drawings or will appear from the following detailed description, while the novelty of the invention is defined 1n the appended claims.

ln the accompanying drawings, D

Figure l is a view in elevation and section indicating three sides of a room equipped with radiator structure embodying a preferred form of my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of a form of construction slightly different from thatv r shown inl Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is an isometric view of my 1mproved radiator as installed in a tiled bath room.

Figure 5 is a sectional View on line 5-5 of Fig. 4:.

Figure 6 is a detail view of component parts of my invention and illustrates one means of securing a certain correlation therebetween.

Figure 7 isav fragmentary detail view illustrating another means of securing the correlation offparts shown in Fig. 6.

Figure 8 is a sectional view on line 8--8 of Fig. 6.

Figures 9, 10 and 11 are lfragmentary detail views hereinafter more fully described.

Figure 12 is a view in elevation and section of humidifying means associated with a radiator embodying my invention, and,-

Figure 13 is a sectional view on line 13 -13\55 0f Fig-1 12.

Similar.. characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

Inasrnuch as desirably heated air in dwelling rooms may in most cases be directed or introduced from near or at the level of the floor, a preferred form of the present invention comprises a base'board structure.l My invention, however, is not limited to such an arrangement, as, in its broader aspects the radiator may be useful when otherwise installed. In any suitable location the manner of' supportin and securing together component parts o the structure may. be substantially the same. As a base board structure 7o the means employed for its supportare arranged for leaving a space at the floor level extending throughout the length of the radiator thereby enhancing its general appearl ance and providing for free access to the heating element of-/air fromthat strata adjacent the floor level which needs most to be heated.\ Furthermore this' opening, bein Continuous and unobstructed from end to en ofthe radiator,facilitates removal of dust and litter that is so prone to gather at the juncture of `floor and wall.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawin s, the Wall structure here indicated, inclu es the wall studs 1, rising from joists as 2, which receive flooring 3. Spaced above the flooring at the usual height of a base board are the ground strip 4 andicrown molding` 5, and within this 'space is introduced a radiator structure including the heating element 6, back plate 7, and frontplate or grille 8. The heating element per se is not my invenv tion, its character however, is useful in the particularly effective provision it affords in a sustaining backing for an encasing plate or grille of thin sheet metal as will hereinafter fully appear. This heating element consists of piping or a core forming equivalent, hav- ,ing closely spaced heat radiating fins of thin sheet metal secured transverselythereto and in thermal contact therewith. Such piping, as 10 and 11, may be suitable for circulating a heat transferring medium as water, steam, or electricity. In some cases a single pipe or elongated core is suitable for effecting the desired function.- The lins 12, are preferably of copper, which may be effectively swaged upon the piping, as in the manner indicated at 13, (see Fig. 8). To meet various requirements suitable lengths ofthe heating element may be provided with unions, as 14, and joined together. f

As intimated the casing for the heating element is formed of thin sheet metal, which, more essentially in the front plate, isdependent for rigidity upon contact with fins of the heating element extending in edgewise relation thereto. The back plate 7 preferably terminating in 'an outwardly directed flange 15, at its upper edge, may be secured to the wall st'uds in any desirable manner, with its lower edge at the floor level and the flange 15 adjacent the ground strip. The heating element is supported by screws 16, extending between certain of the fins, beneath the piping or core, through the back plate and into the wall studs. The heads of these screws engage inwardly bent portions 17, of adjacent fins which form shoulders whereby the heating element may, by action of the screws, be drawn toward the back plate to firmly seat thereupon edges of the tins opposed thereto, said element being located vertically to bring the upper edges of the fins adjacent or contiguous to the under side of the flange 15, the latter having directly above it, the ground strip 4. `With the heating element thus supported the bottom edges of the fins are spaced from the floor au appropriate distance to insure an adequate supply of air for circulation between the fins. To enclose the ins and form air passages therebetween, the front plate 8, is secured by screws 18, or their equivalents passing between certain of the fins and into the wall studs, thus serving to seat said plate into firm Contact with edges of the ins opposed thereto. The upper part of this plate preferably terminates in an inwardly directed flange 19, passing beneath the crown molding and it will be observed that such part of this flange as may be exposed,

outwardly` from' said molding, is supported either directly upon underlying edges of fins or in some cases indirectly by said edges as will in due course be further explained. The lower edge of the front plate terminates j'ust below the fins, preferably in an inwardly turned or curved lip 20, which serves to stiften the edge as well as to improve appearance thereof and to provide an approved form of intake for air therebeneath. The upper portion of the front plate is suitably perforated, as at 21, to permit outward flow of air that has been heated by passage between the fins. These openings 21 are opposed to the closely spaced edges of the fins andthe spaces between them, and as the purpose of the openings is to permit free outlet of air from respective spaces, their form is best adapted to suit the purpose by making them long, narrow, closely spaced and with their side edges in substantial parallelism with the fins so that the latter as seen, in so far as they are visible back of the resulting grille, will `be in harmony with the grille and therefore inconspicuous. This arrangement ofl elongated slots may be supplemented with various small openings, as the dots 23, to make the design of the grille more ornate. At the base of the back plate, a strip 24, is provided, corresponding to the so called shoe moldin of a base board, which strip may be so s aped and so harmonized in color with that of the front plate as to make the outward appearance of the structure closely simulate a vbase board of generally accepted design. From the foregoing it will be apparent that the closely spaced fins of the heating element form, when the latter is encased between the back and front plates in the manner set forth, a rigid structure and one in which front plate, although of thin sheet metal, is insured by the backing of the fins, againstthe eiect of such blows fromthe outside as would otherwise buckle the surface and mar its appearance.

In Fig. 1, feed and return pipes for a heating element adapted for fluid circulation, are indicated by 25'and 26, respectively, and are shown as they may be conveniently installed between Wall studs. A return bend 27, at the opposite end of said element, may be provided with an enlarged air chamber 28, extended from the bend to within a space between wall stu-ds. This arrangement conveniently permits of attachment to the top of the air chamber of a pipe 29, directed downwardly and outwardly to a suitable point, as in front of the grille, where an air cock 30, is attached to permit of the release of such excess air as may become trapped in the system. y

While the face of the structure shown in Fig. 1, is in a plane somewhat to the fore of that usually occupied by a base board, it will be observed that the exact position of the latter may be duplicated by the expedient illustrated in Fig. 3, wherein the wall studs are shown as recessed at 31, to secure the desired result. Similarly in Figs. 4 and 5, the wall studs are recessed and abutted at their base by an angle iron 32, such as commonly employed in bath-room and like construction. The upright leg of the angle iron, herein takes the place of the shoe molding or strip 24, shown in other views. In Fig. 4, the radiator structure is represented as of comparatively short extent. It clearly shows, however, the accessibility of the floor area overhung by the radiator and from this it will be readilyunderstood that the advantage .indicated prevails throughout with whatever length of radiator may be installed.

In Fig. 6, the heating element illustrated is shown inclined to the horizontal top flange of the` front plate, such inclination being effected in practice in cases where it is desirable to overcome air trapping and to impartgravity flow to the heating fluid employed as when it becomes condensed. As manufactured at the present time, the heating element sections comprise associated piping and inswith the surface defined by the outer edges of the fins in parallelism with the longitudinal axis of the piping. It becomes desirable then, when a heating element is installed in inclination to the horizontal, to adopt an expedient to maintain a supporting effect by the fins similar to that secured by their edges when the latter are brought into a plane corresponding with or contiguous to that of an overlying member. This may be accomplished by bending the flange opposed edges of the lins in graduated degree from one endV of the series to the other as indicated at 33. A similar result may be effected by placing upon certain of the fins at suitable intervals, clips 34, as of folded metal, graduated in width to bridge the tapered space between the surface defined by the upper edges of the fins and the opposed surface of an overlying member, as

' of the flange 19. Other similar expedients will be readily suggested to those skilled in j the art to which this matter appertains.

In Figs. 9, 10 and l1, different ways are illustrated of forming a joint between the fin overlying flanges of the front and back plates. The joint shown in Fig. 9, is formed by extending the flange of the front plate over that of the back plate. Fig. 10, shows a joint formed by placing a strip 35, of suitable material on top of the front and back plate flanges to bridgetheir adjacent edges. Fig. 11, shows a similar strip 36, placed beneath the flanges. Y Y

1n Figs. 12 and 13, there is illustrated in association with radiator construction substanti ally like that already described, a water container which provides for humidifying air issuing from the heating area. Such a container may comprise a pipe 37, with closed ends. The piping is extended along fins of the heater' in contact therewith, and may be secured in place in various ways. As shown it is enclosed by 'a front plate 38, formed to closely fit the pipe and terminating in a fiange39, passing under a crown molding 40 and ground strip 41. A slot 42, is formed in the-wall of the pipe, and perforat'ons, as 43, in plate 38, register with said slot to provide vapor exits. Any desirable means may be provided for introducing and maintaining a supply of water in the'container 37. While the pipe shown circular in cross section, it will be understood that it may be otherwise, or a container may be suitabl incor orated in a crown molding.

t 1s to e noted in particular that in In `improved radiator structure the highly elli) cient form of heating element employed is o f such character that its size in cross sectlon may be reduced to occupy merely the upper portion of space usually taken up by a base board and that capacity of the system may be regulated to all reasonable requlrements by extending the structure about a room wherever base board space is available. Thus the extended narrow unobstructed openings at the floor level provide for draft upon adjacent air, which draft is imperceptiblebecausewidelydil'used. Furthermore the air drawn to the ins of the heating element, passes therebetween and directly into the room again so that heat is diffusedly imparted to the room Without objectionable air currents.

Preferred and modified forms of the structure illustrated in the drawings and described in the foregoing specification will suggest other variations to those skilled in the art. These may be made in many respects without departure from the scope of the inventi' on as defined by the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is,-' ,Y

l. The combination with a floor and wall adjacent their juncture and with a ground strip and crown molding, of a radiator structure. simulating a base board and which inycludes a heating element and a front andl back plate forming a casing for said element, said back plate being secured to the wall and extending from the floor to the ground strip with an outwardly directed flange underlying the latter, said heating element having an elongated core from which are transversely extended closely spaced sheet metal fins, means extending between the fins for securing the heating element to the Wall with rear edges ofthe fins against the back plate, upper edges of the fins adjacent the flange of the back plate, and lower edges of the fins spaced from the floor. means extending between the fins for securing the front plate to the wall and drawing it into contact with the front edges of the fins, said front plate at its upper edge terminating in a fiange extending under the crown molding and supported bv the fins, and terminating at its lower edge in an inturned lip or flange adjacent the lower edges of the fins, means for closing the space between adjacent fianges of the front and back plates where they overlie the fins. and a shoe molding at the base of the back plate. i

' 2. The combination with a. floor and wall adjacent their juncture and with a ground strip and crown molding, of a radiator structure which includes a heating element and a front and back plate forming a ca-sin therefor, said back plate being secured to t e wall and extending from the floor to the ground strip, said heating element having an elongated core from which are transversely extended closely spaced sheet metal fins, means extending between the fins for securing the heating element to the wall with rear edges of the fins against the back plate, upper edges of the fins adjacent the ground strip and crown molding, and lower edges of the fins spaced from the floor, means extending between the ns for supporting the front plate and drawing it into contact with the front edges of the fins, and means for coverin the upper edges of the fins extending from ront to back plate, said front plate terminating at its lower edge in an inturned lip or fiange adjacent the lower edges of the fins and having infits upper portion closely spaced openings opposed to outer edges of the fins and spaces therebetween.

3. The combination with a floor and wall adjacent their juncture and with a ground strip and crown molding, of a radiator structure which includes a. heating element and a front plate or grille, said heating element having an elongated core from which are transversely extended closely spaced sheet metal fins, front edges of which extend substantially perpendicular and define the front surface of the heating element, means for securing the heating element to the wall with upper edges of the fins adjacent the ground strip and crown molding, and lower edges of the fins spaced from the floor, and means extending between the fins for supporting thel front`- plate and holding it in contact with the front 'surface of the heating element, said front plate at its upper edge terminating in a fiange extending under the crown molding and sup orted by the fins, terminating at its lower e ge in an inturned lip or flange adjacent the lower edges of the fins, and having elongated grille forming openings substantiallyk in parallelism with front edges of the fins. l

4. In a radiator structure in combination, a heating element having an elongated core from which are transversely extended closely spaced sheet metal fins, front edges of which extend in parallelism and define the front surface of the heating element, a plate or grille for covering the front of the heating element, means extending between the fins for securing the heating element to a wall, and

mea-ns extending between the fins for supporting the plate and holding it in contact with the front surface of the he tingelement, said plate having elongated grille forming openings substantially in parallelism with the parallel edges of the fins.

1 5. In a radiator structure in combination, a heating element having an elongated core from which are transversely extended closely spaced sheet metal fins, a housin for the heating element including a back p ate and a perforated front plate or grille, means for securing the back plate upon a wall adjacent the floor level, supporting members extending between and engaging inbent portions of adjacent fin-s for supporting the heating element and securing it against the back plate with the lower side thereof spaced from the fioor, and means extending between said fins for securing said front plate against the fins of the heating element.

6.` A radiator structure including in combination, a back plate, a front plate of sheet metal having numerous openings therein to form a grill-e, a heating' element having an outer surface defined by the edges of closely spaced sheet metal fins, and means extendin between the fins for securing the plates an heating element in assembled relation whereby the closely spaced fins in underlying contact with the grille are effective to resist inward bending of the latter.

7. A radiator structure including in combination, a back plate, a front plate, a heating element having an elongated core from which are transversely extended closely spaced sheet metal fins, means for securin the plates and heating element in assembled relation with the fins of the heating element serving as spacers for the plates, and covering means for the fins extending from one plate to the other.

8. A radiator structure including in combination, a support, a sheet metal casing folded to form adjoining sides, a heating element having an elongated core from which are transversely extended closely spaced sheet metal fins, outer edges of which define surfaces corresponding to those of the casing, means for securing the casing and heating `element to the support with onel surface defined by outer edges of the fins contiguous to a side of the casing and another of said fin defined surfaces inclined to an opposed side of the casing, and spacing means interposed between the fin defined surface and the opposed side of the casing.

9. A radiator structure including in combination, a support, a sheet metal casing folded to form adjoining sides, a heating element having an elongated core from which are transversely extended closely spaced sheet metal fins, outer edges of which define surfaces corresponding to those of the casing, and means for securing the casing and heating element to the support with the sides of the casing engaged by the fins.

10. A radiator structure including in combination, a support, a heating element having an elongated core from which are transversely extended closely spaced sheet metal fins, outer edges of which define a surface of substantial extent, certain of said fins being inbent to form screw head engaging shoulders beneath said surface and at suitable points lengthwise of the core, and screws passing between the fins, beneath the core, into the support, with the heads of said screws beneath said surface and engaging respective shoulders, whereby the surface defined by the fins is left unbroken to receive an overying cover plate conformable to said surace. 1 11. A radiator structure including in com bination, a support, a heating element havin an elongated core from which are extende transversely to its longitudinal axis closely spaced sheet metal lins, certain of which are inbent to form screw head engaging shoulders at suitable points lengthwise of the core, and screws passing between the fins, beneath the core and into the support with the heads of said screws engaging respective shoulders. 12. A radiator heating element comprisin an elongated core from which are extende transversely to its longitudinal axis closely spaced sheet metal fins, portions of certain adjacent ns being inbent to form shoulders at spaced points lengthwise of the core.

13. A radiator structure including in combination, a back plate, a front plate, a heatin element having an elongated core from which are transversely extended closely spaced sheet metal fins, means for securing the plates and heating element in assembled relation with the fins of the heating element serving as spacers for the plates, and covering means juxtaposed over the ns an extending from one plate to the other.

14. A radiator structure includin 'in combination, a support, a sheet metal easing folded to form adjoining sides, a heating element having an elongated core from which are 40 transversely extended closely spaced sheet metal fins, outer edges of which define surfaces corresponding to those of the casing, a` water container conti nous to the ns of the heating element withln the casing, said container and casing having vapor outlets, and

means for securingthe casing and heating ele- -ment to the supgort with sides of the casing engaged by the ns.

.15. A radiator structure including in combination a back plate, a front plate, a heatin element having an elongated core from whic are transverse yA extended closely spaced sheet metal fins, means for securing the plates and heating element'in assembled relation with fins of the heating element serving as spacers for the plates, an o en water container contiguous to the fins o the heating element, and perforated covering means enclosing the water container and extending over the fins 00 from one plate to the other.

In testimony whereof I ax my signature.

EDGAR E, WAYLES. 

